Bass Synth Collection

[T. Alan Smith]

Freqbox on the way.

REALLY looking forward to your thoughts on this.

 

[gastric]

I was always unimpressed with the Freqbox overall. However, at the time I didn't have a lot of experience with modular synth signal chains. But by itself the Freqbox sounds thin and not at all like what you might want, which for me was a thick, fat monster bass synth line. You probably need to use it as a foundation then add modulation, filtering, etc. to fatten it up and massage it into something like what you'd expect. And a MP-201 to provide LFO would probably liven it up.

 

[Shish]

as for me using a chain of analog pedals to create some sort of "synth" sound usually works better than any synth unit by itself. here is something from my collection.
Subdecay Noise Box - unpredictable and angry pedal. it took some time to make it sounds musically.
Copilot FX Android - lo-fi ring mod. if you put it before Wooly Mammoth you'll get awesome 8-bit like tone. it also makes Noise Box sounds more smooth. i always use Android in combination with other pedals.
Copilot FX Orbit - mix of fuzz and ring mod. very versatile but you should be crazy enough to play with it (same for Noise Box).
theSyle Green Filter - kind of dirty envelope filter, it's like bassballs on steroids. fuzz+green filter+delay=awesome!

 

[Altitude]

At some point, you might also consider buying an actual analog keyboard synth. The fun factor is out the door, and the sounds, infinite. A Moog Little Phatty, or Dave Smith MoPho are 2 good choices. I like bass synth too, but these keyboards are badass.

+1. If you happen to be an attention-seeking bass player, doubling on a Moog is a great way to make yourself into a conversation piece. Plus...they are super fun and nail all of the tones we've been trying to nail with bass synth pedals all along!

We played with a band called the Pimps of Joytime earlier this year; I think they came out of Brooklyn. They were awesome in general. Their bass player doubled between an off-brand Hofner knock-off and a MiniMoog. It was a trip.

I have a Boss GT-10B. On the whole, I love it - it is powerful and flexible beyond the reach of any realistic pedalboard. The one let-down with that product is the synth, though. It does one thing and not very well. If they had only built the capability of an SYB-5 into that unit, it would be nearly perfect.

 

[khabalah]

I was always unimpressed with the Freqbox overall. However, at the time I didn't have a lot of experience with modular synth signal chains. But by itself the Freqbox sounds thin and not at all like what you might want, which for me was a thick, fat monster bass synth line. You probably need to use it as a foundation then add modulation, filtering, etc. to fatten it up and massage it into something like what you'd expect. And a MP-201 to provide LFO would probably liven it up.

your spot on there my friend,the freqbox is a bit of a wild stallion but if you put it in a pasture with a few other trusty steeds it does indeed come into its own..
OC-2>oxide>freqbox>moog phaser>lpf works well for me
i just use a CP251 for the LFOs to "liven things up"

another pedal that works surprisingly well with a freq is a bassballs(!) crazy talkbox stylee !!

 

[Shish]

how come Pigtronix Mothership hasn't been mentioned in this thread yet?

 

[waveman]

how come Pigtronix Mothership hasn't been mentioned in this thread yet?

Yeah, I'd love to have one of those.

What'd be cool is for these collectors to give their impression of each pedal. Maybe even some audio comparisons.

Also, I use and EHX Hog for the most part. No pedal synth collection is complete with out one of those

 

[grygrx]

Thanks for reporting, don't feed the trolls.